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Australian Catholic University (ACU)

  • 12% international / 88% domestic

Master of Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy

  • Masters (Coursework)

The Master of Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy offers advanced knowledge in human movement, sports injuries, and performance enhancement. Delivered online with intensive face-to-face blocks, it is designed for experienced physiotherapists seeking to enhance their expertise.

Key details

Degree Type
Masters (Coursework)
Duration
1.5 years full-time
Study Mode
Online
Intake Months
Jan, Jun
Domestic Fees
$25,568 per year

About this course

Overview

The Master of Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy will provide you, as a physiotherapist, with the opportunity to acquire advanced theoretical, scientific and clinical knowledge of normal and pathological human movement as it relates to sports, exercise, performance, injuries, pathology and disease.

Using an evidence-informed person-centred approach, you will develop an understanding of how wellbeing relates to performance and be able to critically analyse, synthesise and apply knowledge for the physiotherapy management of sports injuries or other health conditions and to enhance sports or exercise performance and wellbeing in athletes and people of all ages, abilities and cultural contexts within the relevant ethical and legal frameworks.

The course will be delivered online with short, intensive face-to-face blocks, over 1.5 years full-time equivalent. The course is suitable for graduate physiotherapists eligible for registration in their own country, with a minimum two years' experience post-graduation.

The majority of the units will be delivered in online mode with some units delivered in multi-mode incorporating online, intensive residential workshops, practicums and a research project. All residential workshops and assessments will be scheduled for 1-2 weeks in the same ACU Online Term.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

International applicants must also meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites:

  • Bachelor degree or higher in Physiotherapy and:
    • hold current registration with the required Authority in Australia, or Registration Authority in country of current practice; and
    • have a minimum of 2 years clinical experience as a physiotherapist post-graduation (including minimum 1 year in musculoskeletal or sports areas).
  • OR
  • ACU's Graduate Certificate in Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy

NOTE: Applicants having completed ACU's Graduate Certificate in Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy will be eligible for recognition of prior learning of up to 40 credit points.

NOTE: Applicants having completed ACU's Graduate Diploma in Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy will be eligible for recognition of prior learning of up to 80 credit points.

English Language Proficiency:

  • Academic IELTS; or IELTS indicator online test: Overall score: 7.0. Individual score of 6.5 in all tests
  • PTE Academic: 65 with a minimum of 58 in all four communicative skills
  • TOEFL: Internet based total of 94: minimum 24 writing, 20 speaking and listening and 19 in reading
  • C1 Advanced: Overall score 185, Minimum score of 176 in all tests
  • ACU English Language test; or ACU EAP: A (75-100%)
  • Demonstrated current registration with an accredited body that has an English language requirement equivalent to, or higher than, the standards required by the University.

Study locations

Online

What you will learn

Overview

The Master of Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy will provide you, as a physiotherapist, with the opportunity to acquire advanced theoretical, scientific and clinical knowledge of normal and pathological human movement as it relates to sports, exercise, performance, injuries, pathology and disease.

Using an evidence-informed person-centred approach, you will develop an understanding of how wellbeing relates to performance and be able to critically analyse, synthesise and apply knowledge for the physiotherapy management of sports injuries or other health conditions and to enhance sports or exercise performance and wellbeing in athletes and people of all ages, abilities and cultural contexts within the relevant ethical and legal frameworks.

Career pathways

You will be able to apply theory and practice learned in a range of health provider settings including but not limited to:

  • professional and semi-professional sporting organisations
  • community sport settings
  • national and state institutes of sport
  • academies of sport
  • Emergency Departments in hospitals
  • government and non-government funded sporting programs (e.g. university, school or post-school sporting clubs)
  • government prevention and management of chronic disease through exercise programs
  • international high performance sport organisations
  • sport, health and disease-based research

Examples of potential employment roles include:

  • sports and exercise physiotherapist for a club, a team or a sports event at national or international levels for visiting or host nation programs
  • E.g. Australian Olympic Team, Olympic and Commonwealth Games, Australian University Games
  • sports medicine manager for a team, an event
  • venue medical manager for major Games
  • high performance manager
  • government advisor on exercise for health

Course structure

Course details

To qualify for the Master of Sport and Exercise Physiotherapy, a student must complete 120 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, consisting of:

  1. 80 cp Specified Units (Part A)
  2. 40 cp from Research Units (Part B)

View course rules

Commencing ACU Term 1 - Full-Time 1.5 Years - 2 units per ACU TermsYear 1ACU Term 1
  • Specified UnitsPHTY614Advanced Principles of Human Movement for Exercise and Sports Performance10 cp
  • Specified UnitsEXSC510Strength and Conditioning for Performance and Rehabilitation10 cp
Year 1ACU Term 2
  • Specified UnitsEXSC651Sports Injury Prevention10 cp
  • Research UnitsHLSC640 Interpreting Health Research ORResearch UnitsHLSC641 Introduction to Health Sciences Research 10 cp
Year 1ACU Term 3
  • Specified UnitsPHTY616Sports Medicine and Musculoskeletal Clinical Practice for Physiotherapists10 cp
  • Specified UnitsPHTY617Physiotherapists Working in Sport10 cp
Year 1ACU Term 4
  • Specified UnitsPHTY615Clinical Exercise for Health and Performance Across the Lifespan10 cp
  • Research UnitsHLSC642 Biostatistics for Health Sciences _Also offered in ACU Term 2_ ORResearch UnitsHLSC646 Qualitative Research Methods
Year 2Summer Term
  • Research UnitsPHTY606Physiotherapy Research Project A
Year 2ACU Term 1
  • Specified UnitsPHTY618Leadership, Management and Advocacy for Sports and Exercise Physiotherapists10 cp
Year 2Semester 1
  • Research UnitsPHTY607Physiotherapy Research Project B
Year 2ACU Term 2
  • Specified UnitsEXSC669Exercise Rehabilitation for Return to Sports Performance10 cp

Credit for prior study or work

NOTE: Applicants having completed ACU's Graduate Certificate in Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy will be eligible for recognition of prior learning of up to 40 credit points.

NOTE: Applicants having completed ACU's Graduate Diploma in Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy will be eligible for recognition of prior learning of up to 80 credit points.

How to apply

Apply now

Graduate outcomes

Graduate satisfaction and employment outcomes for Health Services & Support courses at Australian Catholic University (ACU).
86.4%
Overall satisfaction
92.6%
Skill scale
86.4%
Teaching scale
82.7%
Employed full-time
$73.1k
Average salary